Milwaukee - Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke raised eyebrows when he released a radio ad urging residents to learn to handle firearms to protect themselves. Now he says he's using taxpayer funds to air them.

Clarke says the ads that first aired last month are public safety announcements.

Clarke's department has an $84.9 million budget for 2013. Eighty five percent comes from county property taxes. Most of the rest comes from state and federal funds.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel couldn't figure out the exact amount being spent on the ad from invoices and other department records.

But Clarke's office has agreed to buy more than $17,000 in radio ads this year. That includes the gun-themed ads.